Omaha daily bee., 1887-08-25
IT'S ALL PART OF THE PLAY
The Pretended Controversy Between the
Civil Service Commissioners.
ONLY AsoPFoR THE MUewUMPs
If Commissioner Oberly Was In
Earnest He Would Join With
Lyman - Democratic Once
Holder Machines.
Dlsmissals For Cause.

WASHINGTON, August 24.-fSpecal Tele
gram to the BEE. There are very strong
reasons for believing that the controversy
between the civil service commissioners over
the matter of civil service dismissals, is in
reality nothing but pre-arranged play. 1t
must astonsh anyone who knows Commis-
soner Obery to find that gentleman advo-
eating a measure which would make the
path of the democratic spoilsmen and office
hunters to places in the government service
more difficult than 1t now is. and one Is GER
tainly justihed to suspect that Mr.. Oberly Is
playing his part to a purpose. His statement
that he can see no objection TO furnishing
reasons for dismissals conflicts so strongly
with Commissioners Edgerton's opinion that
if he were in earnest he would undoubtedly
insist on the adoption of rule to
carry out his ALLEGED view, which is
also that of Commissioner Lyman.
But it is evident that he will not go so far, at
least not now, and perhaps not until 1t be
comes necessary to better protect democratic
employees against an incoming republican ad-
ministratiOn. The farce played by Obery
and Edgerton has clearly been arranged to
please the mugwumps, who are strongly
tempted to kick against the civil service
methods of the administration, without of.
Tending the democratic spOilSmen. 1t would
not have looked well II the democratic COM
missioners had pronounced against the re-
striction of dismisSals by compelling dismiss
ing officials to give reasons for them, and. be-
Sides the course pursued by Oberly paves the
way for such a rule whenever one
Is deemed necessary to protect democratic
civil service employees. If Commissioners
Oberly and the president were honest in
their civil service reform pretensiOns, they
would doubtless pay some attention to the
work of the democratic state associations in
this city. These associations flourish, eXer-
else very great influence in all the depart
ments and procure dismissals and appoint
ments.
Mono of them Is better political machine
than that of Maryland, which embraces all
the officials and government employees from
that state, with just about enough nOn-of-
tcial members to fill the association offices
and for the formation of committees 10 pro-
vide spOls. Only yesterday twelve members
were added to that association, most of whom
are new employees OF the navy yard here.
This association Is very active. Its COM
mittee Is always on the hunt for places
for democratic FOUNDERS and strikers and as
they are under the patronage and protection
of Boss GOrman, they are treated with great
consideration in all the departments The
Maryland, the Virginia, and other democrat
ic organizations also announce their purpose
of serving their party in the election and 50
leave no room to doubt their power as pOlit-
ical machines. In due time there will be
democratic associations from all the states
consisting of nine-tenths of Office holders and
OF One-tenth Of claim agents and other poll
| tcans. II the administration was reform
| administration, it would certainly not rec
Ognize these associations IN its appoint.
mentS.